3 minute read
A freshen-up seems to have been the key to rekindling the winning touch in Polytrack specialist Mr Luck.
The American-bred six-year-old by Kitten’s Joy seemed to have lost his zest for racing, having not found the line in seven runs since his last win in July 2017.
After Mr Luck tailed off a bad last in a Class 3 race (1200m) in January, trainer Desmond Koh decided it was time for a break.
With no saddle on for six weeks, Mr Luck came back nice and refreshed in March, with Koh gradually getting him back to working mode.
That he did, and though punters were not convinced of a victory first-up in the $80,000 Flax 2013 Stakes, a Kranji Stakes C race over 1100m, the $222 shot proved them wrong.
Out among the first few, he loomed as a big threat in the home straight, but was inclined to hang in as he cut race-leader Marine Treasure (Zyrul Nor Azman) down.
The lack of racing fitness probably showed in the last 50m, as Marine Treasure picked himself off the canvas, but on the line Mr Luck (Benny Woodworth) had the luck by a nose.
Favourite Anonymous (Vlad Duric) as usual came with a late run, but had to settle for another placing with third spot another 1 ½ lengths away. The winning time was 1min 5.46secs for the 1100m on Polytrack.
“He was getting a bit sour with racing and I gave him time off to freshen his mood,” said Koh.
“For one and a half months, he did absolutely nothing and then I brought him back into focus in the last one and a half months.
“He’s got a very good first-up record, that’s his favourite surface and distance, and Benny said his last workout was pretty good and he could run well.”
Woodworth, who was the winning pilot at the first two of Mr Luck’s five wins, said he could feel the gelding had plenty to offer when he set him alight at the 300m.
“He was fresh after a long break. He got a bit tired late, but he was able to hang on,” said the Malaysian jockey.
“He’s a nice horse, but I’m quite surprised he won tonight.”
Mr Luck has now taken his racing record to six wins and six thirds from 25 starts for prizemoney nearing the $270,000 mark for the Luck San Stable.
